Action Of Solidarity With Political Prisoners To Be Held On June 22 In Minsk

Mikalai Statkevich’s ally, recently released from custody in the framework of the “patriots case”, urges to take on to the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk at 6 p.m. on June 22.

The aim of the action is to demand release of all political prisoners.

Activist of the Belarusian National Congress Siarhei Kuntsevich, who spent over two months behind the bars himself, shared this on Facebook.

— I went out of jail three days ago, — stated in Siarhei Kuntsevich’s message.— I was set free, in the first place, due to the solidarity, the pressure on the regime, because you demanded release of political prisoners. I thank you all for the support.

Despite the fact that some of the defendants in the "patriots case" have been released, 14 people, detained on the eve of the Freedom Day, remain behind the bars. In addition, Dzmitry Paliyenka and Mikhail Zhamchuzhny are jailed. Brest leaders of the spring protests Andrei Sharenda and Palina Panasiuk-Sharenda are under the threat of criminal prosecution. There is pressure on other opposition activists.

The only force that the regime is afraid of is the people, all of us. More than once our solidarity helped to achieve the release of political prisoners. I am sure that this is what will happen now. Together, we will be able to bring the day of release of the jailed patriots and stop the repression.

The best way to demonstrate our solidarity with those behind bars on political charges is street actions.

On June 22, a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central and Eastern Europe will be held in Minsk. This day is very suitable not only to appeal to the Belarusian authorities, but also to convey the information about the situation in Belarus to our neighbours.

I suggest getting together in the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 22, and demand that the regime releases political prisoners and stop persecution for political reasons, and also call on the European countries to put pressure on Lukashenka and make him respect his own people.